Awak Kuier, basketball player

“It’s important for me to be able to say what I think and feel. Athletes should have freedom of expression. Perhaps previously, athletes didn’t dare to give their opinion on things, but now things have changed. Athletes feel better when they can express themselves and their opinion.

Because I myself come from a minority, it’s great to be involved in the “Don’t break the game” campaign. I’ve become more familiar with athletes’ activism in human rights issues in the USA, in the Women’s National Basketball Association. There, players have taken a stand by wearing Black Lives Matter shirts at games. Athletes’ activism always has a strong presence in the league otherwise, too, which is fantastic. In Finland, sports bodies should be more active in standing up for minorities and against racism and discrimination. With sport, we can change the world for the better. That goes for human rights, too.”